Detection method for C-RAF-1 genes

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to (1) a method of identifying an individual at an increased risk for developing cancer, (2) a method for determining a prognosis in patients afflicted with cancer, and (3) a method for determining the proper course of treatment for a patient afflicted with cancer; comprising: amplifying a region of the c-raf-1 gene.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/185,282, filed Jan. 24, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,670, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/759,238 filed Sep. 16, 1991, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/236,947 filed Aug. 26, 1988 which is now U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,841.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to (1) a method of identifying an individual at an increased risk for developing cancer, (2) a method for determining a prognosis of patients afflicted with cancer, and (3) a method for determining the proper course of treatment for a patient afflicted with cancer.

2. Background Information

Lung cancer claims more lives in the United States than any other neoplasm (R. S. Finley, Am. Pharm. NS29, 39 (1989)), and of the various forms lung adenocarcinomas have one of the worst prognoses (T. P. Miller, Semin. Oncol. 17, 11 (1990)). The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the lung (ACL) in the United States is also quickly rising (I. Linnoila, Hematol. Oncol. North. Am. 4, 1027 (1990); J. B. Sorensen, H. H. Hansen, Cancer Surviv. 8, 671 (1989)). In order to gain insight into this complex and deadly disease, a model system for its study has been developed. For such a model to provide clinically relevant data several criteria must be met. The tumors produced should be histologically equivalent to their human counterparts, tumor induction must be reliable and reproducible, and the numbers generated must be great enough to provide statistical significance. To satisfy these conditions a system has been created which uses two inbred souse strains (NFS/n and AKR) along with transplacental exposure to the potent carcinogen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and promotion with the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The resulting tumors were examined for, altered expression or structural mutations of genes implicated in lung tumor development such as ras, mvc, and raf oncogenes (C. D. Little et al., Nature 306, 194 (1983); P. E. Kiefer et al., Cancer Res., 47, 6236 (1987); E. Santos et al., Science 223, 661 (1984); S. Rodenhuis, N. Engl. J. Med. 317, 929 (1987); M. Barbacid, Eur. J. Clin. Invest, 20, 225 (1990); U. R. Rapp et al., J. Int. Assoc. for the Study of Lung Cancer 4, 162 (1988); M. J. Birrer et al., Ann. Rev. Med. 40, 305 (1989); G. Sithanandam et al., Oncogene 4, 451 (1989)).

raf proto-oncogenes are evolutionarily highly conserved genes encoding cytoplasmic serine/threonine specific kinases, which function in mitogen signal transduction (reviewed in U. R. Rapp et al., The Oncogene Handbook, T. Curran et al., Eds. (Elsevier Science Publishers, The Netherlands, 1988), pp. 115-154; U. R. Rapp, Oncogene 6, 495 (1991)). The three known active members in the raf family encode phosphoproteins of similar size (72/74 kD for Raf-1; 68 kD for A-Raf-1, and 74 kD for B-Raf (U. R. Rapp et al., in Retroviruses and Human Pathology, R. Gallo et al., Eds. (Humana Press, Clifton, N.J. 1985), pp. 449-472; T. W. Beck et al., Nucleic Acids Res, 15, 595 (1987); G. Sithanandam et al., Oncogene 5, 1775 (1990))). Raf-1 was first identified as the cellular homologue of v-raf (H. W. Jansen et al., Nature 307, 218 (1984)), the transforming gene of 3611 MSV (U. R. Rapp et al., J. Virol. 45, 914 (1983); U. R. Rapp et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80, 4218 (1983)). Amino acid comparisons of raf family genes shows three conserved regions CR1, CR2, CR3! (T. W. Beck et al., Nucleic Acids Res, 15, 595 (1987)); CR1 is a regulatory region surrounding a Cys finger consensus sequence, CR2 is a serine/threonine rich region, and CR3 represents the kinase domain. Raf-1 has been mapped to chromosome 3p25 in humans (S. J. O'Brien et al., Science 223, 71 (1984)), and this region has been found to be frequently altered in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) (J. Whang-Peng et al., Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 6, 119 (1982); J. M. Ibson et al., J. Cell. Biochem. 33, 267 (1987)), familial renal cell carcinoma (A. J. Cohen et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 301, 592 (1979); G. Kovacs et al., Int. J. Cancer 40, 171 (1987)), mixed parotid gland tumors (J. Mark et al., Hereditas 96, 141 (1982)), and ovarian cancer (K. Tanaka et al., Cancer Genet. Cytogenet. 43, 1 (1989)).

Raf genes are differentially expressed in various tissues (S. M. Storm et al., Oncogene 5, 345 (1990)). c-raf-1 has been found to be expressed ubiquitously, though absolute levels vary between tissues. A-raf-1 is present predominantly in the urogenital tissues, whereas B-Raf is most abundant in cerebrum and testis. The ubiquitous c-Raf-1 kinase is regulated by tyrosine and serine phosphorylations that result from activated growth factor receptor kinases (D. K. Morrison et al., Cell 58, 648 (1989); D. K. Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 8855 (1989); K. S. Kovacina et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 12115 (1990); P. J. Blackshear et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 12131 (1990); M. P. Carroll et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 19812 (1990); J. N. Siegel et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 18472 (1990); B. C. Turner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 1227 (1991); M. Baccarini et al., EMBO J. 9, 3649 (1990); H. App et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 11, 913 (1991)). Raf-1 operates downstream of Ras in mitogen signal transduction as judged by experiments using antibody microinjection (M. R. Smith et al., Nature 320, 540 (1986)), c-raf-1 antisense expression constructs (W. Kolch et al., Nature 349, 426 (1991)), dominant negative mutants (W. Kolch et al., Nature 349, 426 (1991)), and Raf revertant cells. Studies with NIH3T3 cells and brain tissue demonstrated that mitogen treatment induces Raf-1 kinase activity and causes a transitory relocation of the active enzyme from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and perinuclear area (Z. Olah et al., Exp. Brain. Res. (in press); U. R. Rapp et al., in Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology, Vol. LIII, Eds. (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. 1988) pp. 173-184).

Raf-1 coupling has been examined in more than a dozen receptor systems and all strong mitogens stimulated Raf-1 kinase activity (U. R. Rapp, Oncogene 6, 495 (1991); D. K. Morrison et al., Cell 58, 648 (1989); D. K. Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 8855 (1989); K. S. Kovacina et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 12115 (1990); P. J. Blackshear et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 12131 (1990); M. P. Carroll et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 19812 (1990); J. N. Siegel et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265, 18472 (1990); B. C. Turner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 1227 (1991); M. Baccarini et al., EMBO J. 9, 3649 (1990); H. App et al., Mol. Cell. Biol, 11, 913 (1991)), and this stimulation correlated with an increase in Raf-1 phosphorylation leading to a shift in apparent molecular weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a method of identifying an individual at an increased risk for developing cancer.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method for determining a prognosis in patients afflicted with cancer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for determining the proper course of treatment for a patient afflicted with cancer.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the description that follows.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of identifying an individual at an increased risk for developing cancer, comprising:

amplifying a region of the c-raf-1 gene;

analyzing products of the amplification for evidence of mutation; and

classifying an individual having one or more mutations in the region as having an increased risk for developing cancer.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for determining a prognosis in patients afflicted with cancer, comprising:

amplifying a region of the c-raf-1 gene;

analyzing products of the amplification for evidence of mutation; and

classifying patients having no mutation in said region as being less likely to suffer disease relapse or having an increased chance of survival than those patients having one or more mutations in said region.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for determining the proper course of treatment for a patient afflicted with cancer, comprising:

amplifying a region of the c-raf-1 gene;

analyzing products of said amplification for evidence of mutation;

identifying a patient having at least one mutation in said region, which patient may require treatment proper for patients having a lesser chance of survival or decreased time to relapse; and

identifying a patient lacking mutations in said region, which patients may require treatment proper for patients having a greater chance of survival or being less likely to suffer disease relapse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Effect of BHT promotion on ENU tumorigenesis in NFS/n x AKR mice. The X-axis represents percent tumor induced mortality within each group, and the Y-axis reflects age in weeks. All animals were exposed to ENU transplacentally at a dose of 0.5 mM/Kg of mother's body weight on day 16 of gestation (presence of vaginal plug was scored as day one). At two weeks of age mice were weaned into two separate groups and separated by sex. Both groups were housed in identical cages and supplied with food (Purina Lab Chow) and water ad libitum. Beginning at three weeks of age, group 2A (O) was given weekly intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of corn oil (0.1 ml), and group 2B (⋄) received weekly i.p. injections of BHT (20 mg/Kg of body weight) dissolved in corn oil. Administration of BHT reduces the mean age of mortality from approximately 20 weeks to 13, and decreases the initial age of mortality. These curves are significantly different (p≦0.001) as judged by a 2-tailed Cox test. In both groups the rate of tumorigenesis was identical for males and females.

FIG. 2. Northern blot analysis of proto-oncogene expression levels in ENU induced tumors.

FIG. 3. Diagnostic digestion of PCR amplified Ki-ras genes from ENU induced tumors. Genomic DNA was isolated from a cesium chloride gradient during RNA preparations. In each case 10 ng was amplified via PCR (95° C., 5 min. followed by 35 cycles of 95° C., 1 min.→55° C., 1 min.→72°, 1 min.) with 2 units of Taq I polymerase. The primers used (K1; 5'-AACTTGTGGTGGTTGGACCT-3'→(SEQ ID NO:6) and K2; ←3'-GTCTTAGTGAAACACCTACT-5' (SEQ ID NO:7)) generate a 79 b.p. product. The primer K1 ends at codon 12 and contains a mismatch from normal mouse (Ki-ras sequence its 18th nucleotide (G→C) creating a BstNI site (CCTGG) in conjunction with a normal codon 12 (GGT). Digestion of amplified product from a normal allele with BstNI produces two products of 19 and 60 b.p., whereas a mutation in one of the first two positions of codon 12 will eliminate the BstNI site. The presence of two normal alleles results in all of the product being cleaved and the presence of one mutant and one normal allele will result in only half of the product cut. In the three panels each sample was run in duplicate, uncut and cut with BstNI. F1 is DNA from an untreated NFS/n X AKR F1 mouse, and MCA5 is a murine cell line known to harbor a mutant K-ras codon 12 allele. One lymphoma (24Ly) and one cell line (117; derived from a lung adenocarcinoma) display a mutated Ki-ras codon 12 allele; however, 24Ly was a passaged tumor and examination of the original tumor showed two normal alleles indicating that this mutation was acquired during passaging.

FIG. 4. c-raf-1 RNAse protection analysis of ENU induced tumors. The probe used was a ³² P labeled antisense transcript from the 3' non-coding region of a mouse c-raf-1 cDNA to the 3' most StuI site. Hybridization of this probe with normal RNA results in a protected fragment of 1.2 kb covering the region encoding the Raf-1 kinase domain. One μg of poly(A)+ RNA from each tumor and 5 μg of F1 RNA (in order to get comparable signals) was hybridized for 12 hours at 52° C. with 200,000 cpm of ³² P labeled mouse c-raf antisense transcript. Hybrids were then digested for 30 minutes with 25 μg RNAse A and 33 units of RNAse T1 at room temperature. Digested hybrids were then incubated with 50 μg of proteinase K, phenol/chloroform extracted, ethanol precipitated, and resuspended in loading dye containing 80% formamide. Samples were then run on 6% polyacrylamide denaturing sequencing gels at 65 watts. Gels were vacuum dried at 80 degrees C. and exposed to X-ray film. Probe is undigested probe alone; tRNA is probe hybridized to non-specific RNA; v-raf is probe hybridized to RNA from a v-raf transformed cell line and the bands detected represent single base mismatches between murine c-raf and v-raf; NFS/AKR F1 is probe hybridized with RNA from a normal (untreated) souse; 24 LY is probe hybridized with RNA from a lymphoma; and the remaining lanes are probe hybridized with RNA isolated from lung tumors.

FIG. 5. Schematic of Raf-1 protein showing sites of ENU induced mutations. CR1, CR2, and CR3 represent conserved regions 1, 2 and 3. cDNAs were made from tumor derived poly(A)+ RNA using MoMuLV reverse transcriptase. Primers (MR1 sequence and MR2 sequence) encompassing a 435 base pair region c-raf were then used to amplify this region via PCR. The amplification mixture was then run on 1.7% agarose gels and the 435 bp product isolated. This isolated fragment was then treated with T4 polymerase and cloned into the HincII site of M13mp18 for sequencing. Another set of primers (EMR1 sequence and EMR2 sequence) was designed containing EcoRI sites at the termini and used to amplify a 609 base pair region (encompassing the original 435 base pair region). Isolated products from these reactions were then digested with EcoRI and cloned into the EcoRI site of KS. Sequencing reactions were carried out using the Sequenase kit (USB) according to the recommended protocols for single and double stranded sequencing. Sequencing reactions were run on 6% polyacrylamide denaturing gels at 65 watts. Gels were vacuum dried at 80 degrees C. and exposed to X-ray film. In each case a normal allele was also sequenced along with the mutant allele.

FIG. 6. Schematic for Identifying c-raf-1 mutations. Primers 1 and 2 are shown in SEQ ID NO:8 and SEQ ID NO:9, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods that involve amplifying a region of the c-raf-1 gene (the sequence of a mouse c-raf-1 gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:10; the nucleotide and corresponding amino acid sequence of a human c-raf-1 gene is shown in SEQ ID NO:11 and SEQ ID NO:12, respectively).

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of identifying an individual at an increased risk for developing cancer (preferably, lung cancer, T-cell lymphomas, renal cell carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, and mixed parotid gland tumors) comprising: amplifying a region (preferably by using the polymerase chain reaction method(PCR) or by cloning techniques) of the c-raf-1 gene of the individual (SEQ ID NO:11)(in one preferred embodiment, the region encodes amino acids 514 to 535 of SEQ ID NO:12); analyzing products of the amplification for evidence of mutation (preferably by DNA sequencing of the region) and classifying an individual having one or more mutations in the region as having an increased risk for developing cancer. In one prefered embodiment, the region encodes amino acids 500 to 550 of SEQ ID NO:12 or amino acids 450 to 630 of SEQ ID NO:12. In another prefered embodiment, the PCR method employs a primer comprising the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:9 and a primer comprising the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:8. In another prefered embodiment, the method comprises the steps shown in FIG. 6.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for determining a prognosis in a patient afflicted with cancer (preferably, those cancers listed above). The method comprises: amplifying the region of the c-raf-1 gene as described above; analyzing products of the amplification for evidence of mutation as described above; and classifying a patient having no mutation in the region as being less likely to suffer disease relapse or having an increased chance of survival than a patient having one or more mutations in the region.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for determining the proper course of treatment for a patient afflicted with cancer (preferably, those cancers listed above), comprising: amplifying a region (described above) of the c-raf-1 gene as described above; analyzing products of the amplification for evidence of mutation as described above; identifying a patient having at least one mutation in the region, which patient may require treatment proper for patients having a lesser chance of survival or decreased time to relapse; and identifying a patient lacking mutations in the region, which patients may require treatment proper for patients having a greater chance of survival or being less likely to suffer disease relapse.

Administration of therapeutic agents (cytotoxic or cytostatic) tailored to recognize the mutant Raf-1 protein but not normal Raf-1 could specifically target tumor cells for death of growth inhibition. Such agents could be comprised of cytotoxic T-cells, antibodies, and/or specifically designed chemical compounds.

The following Examples demonstrate consistent point mutations of the c-raf-1 proto-oncogene, within a small region of the kinase domain, in a mouse model for chemical tumor induction. This is the first demonstration of point mutated raf genes in vivo, and the first isolation of activating in vivo point mutations in the kinase domain of a proto-oncogene. The tumors examined show a selective specificity for Raf-1 mutations as another family of genes, the ras proto-oncogenes which are frequently activated by point mutation in both animal and human tumors (S. Rodenhuis et al., Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 142, S27-30; T. R. Devereux et al., Carcinogenesis 12, 299 (1991)), is not involved.

The present invention is described in further detail in the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES

The following protocols and experimental details are referenced in the examples that follow:

RNA Isolation. Tumors were excised, a small portion minced in PBS (phosphate buffered saline solution) for passaging in nude nice, frozen immediately in a dry ice/ethanol bath, and stored at -70° until RNA extraction. Frozen tissues were minced on wet ice in a guanidine thiocyanate buffer (4M guanidine thiocyanate 10 mM EDTA, 2% N-lauryl sarcosine, 2% beta-mercaptoethanol, 10 mM Tris (pH=7.6)), disrupted in a Dounce homogenizer, and extracted three times with phenol: chloroform: isoamyl alcohol (24:24:2). Supernatants were then transferred to SW41 tubes, 100 μg of cesium chloride per ml was added to the supernatant which was then underlayed with one half saturated cesium chloride in 10 mM EDTA (pH=7.0; index of refraction 1.3995-1.4000), and centrifuged at 25,000 rpm for 20 hours in a Sorvall SW-41TI rotor using a Beckman model L5-50 ultracentrifuge. Supernatants were removed and RNA pellets dissolved in 4 ml resuspension buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH=7.6, 5% beta-mercaptoethanol, 0.5% N-lauryl sarcosine, 10 mM EDTA), extracted once with phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol, sodium acetate added to 0.12M and RNA precipatated with two volumes ethanol at -20° C. overnight. Precipitates were centrifuged at 9,000 rpm in a Sorvall SS-34 rotor for 30 minutes, and pellets redissolved in RNA sample buffer (10 mM Tris pH=7.4, 1 mM EDTA, 0.05% sodium dodecyl sulfate) and concentrations determined by absorbance at 260 nm. Poly (A)⁺ RNA was isolated by binding to oligo dT cellulose columns in high salt (10 mM Tris pH=7.4, 1 mM EDTA, 0.05% SDS, 500 mM NaCl), and eluting with RNA sample buffer heated to 40° C.

Northern Blotting. 5 μg poly(A)⁺ RNA per lane was ethanol precipitated, desiccated, resuspended in loading buffer (20 mM MOPS pH=6.8, 5 mM sodium acetate, 1 mM EDTA, 50% formamide, 6% formaldehyde), heated at 65° C. for 5 min., quick chilled on wet ice for 10 min., and electrophoresed through a 0.7% agarose gel containing 2.2M formaldehyde, 20 mM MOPS pH=6.8!, 5 mM sodium acetate, and 1 mM EDTA. Gels were then blotted overnight onto nitrocellulose filters via capillary transfer in 20X SSC, filters were washed in 3X SSC for 10 min. and baked at 80° C. for 2 hours.

Hybridizations. Filters were prehybridized at 42° C. in 5X SSC, 50% formamide, 20 mM sodium phosphate pH=6.8, 200 μg/ml PVP-40, 200 μg/ml ficoll 400, 200 μg/ml bovine serum albumin, and 200 μg/ml sonicated sheared salmon sperm DNA. Blots were then hybridized with 500,000 cpm/ml of random primed ⁼ P labeled probes overnight at 42° C. in prehybridization solution with 5% dextran sulfate. Blots were washed with agitation in 2X SSC, 0.1% SDS at room temperature six times for 20 minutes each wash, then washed once at 45° C. in 0.1X SSC for 15 minutes. Filters were exposed to X-AR 5 film at -70° C.

Example 1 Tumor Induction

NFS female mice were mated with AKR males and pregnant females given a transplacental injection of 1-ethyl-1-nitrosourea (ENU) at a dosage of 0.5 mM/Kg mother's body weight on day 16 of gestation, counting plug date as day one. ENU was chosen for tumor induction since it is a very potent direct acting carcinogen capable of modifying any base in vivo (Singer, B. et al., 1983. Molecular Biology of Mutagens and Carcinogens, Plenum Press, New York). ENU alkylates all tissues with roughly the same efficiency (E. Scherer et al., Cancer Lett. 46, 21 (1989)) and has a very short half life in vivo (E. M. Faustman et al., Teratology 40, 199 (1989)) allowing specific mutagenesis of tissues which are mitotically active at a particular time. NFS and AKR were chosen as parental strains based on earlier studies which showed then to be particularly susceptible to lung tumors following ENU exposure (B. A. Diwan et al., Cancer Res. 34, 764 (1974); S. L. Kauffman, JNCI 57, 821 (1976)). With this procedure nearly 100% of the offspring develop lung adenocarcinomas and approximately 70% develop, in addition, T-cell lymphomas with a mean latency of approximately 20 weeks. In order to achieve more rapid tumor development, weaning mice were treated with weekly injections of a tumor promoter, the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene or BHT (20 mg/kg body weight dissolved in corn oil). BHT was used as it has been demonstrated to cause lung lesions and hyperplasia when injected into mice (A. A. Marino et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 140, 122 (1972); H. Witschi et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 147, 690 (1974); N. Ito et al., CRC Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 15, 109 (1984)). In the present system it nearly doubles the rate at which tumors develop. FIG. 1 compares tumor induced mortality with age of animals for those receiving ENU alone, and those receiving ENU and promoted with BHT. These curves demonstrate that when BHT is given the mean age of tumor induced mortality decreases from approximately 20 weeks to around 12, and there is also a decrease in initial latency. These curves are significantly different with a confidence limit greater than 99.99% using a 2-tailed Cox test. In addition, BHT promotion, while increasing the rate at which tumors develop, does not affect the tumor spectrum.

Example 2 Oncogene Expression

Northern blot analysis revealed elevated levels of c-raf-1, as compared to normal tissue, in every tumor examined (FIG. 2), and Western blot analysis showed that protein levels correlated with message levels (U. R. Rapp et al., in Oncogenes and Cancer, S. A. Aaronson et al., Eds. (Tokyo/VNU Scientific Press, Tokyo, 1987) pp. 55-74). In addition, in call lines derived from primary tumors, Raf-1 protein kinase activity was shown by immune-complex kinase assays to be constitutive. Further analysis of other oncogenes revealed no consistent pattern of expression except for ras and syc family genes. In the case of the mvc family, one member (either c-, N-, or L-mvc) was overexpressed but never more than one. For the ras genes, at least one member (Ki-, Ha-, or N-ras), and often more than one, was expressed at high levels when compared with the normal tissue. In addition all oncogenes examined via Northern analysis exhibited full length, normal sized transcripts.

ras genes were considered likely candidates for mutational activation since oncogenic forms of Ki-ras have previously been observed in lung tumors (S. Rodenhuis et al., Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 142, S27-30; T. R. Devereux et al., Carcinogenesis 12, 299 (1991)) and ENU is a point mutagen (Singer, B. et al., 1983. Molecular Biology of Mutagens and Carcinogens, Plenum Press, New York). A systematic analysis of various ras codons known to be involved in oncogenic activation was therefore performed . Ha-, Ki-, and N-ras were examined at codons 12, 13, and 61 for potential mutations via RNAse protection assays (R. M. Myers et al., Science 230, 1242 (1985); E. Winter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 7575 (1985)), PCR amplification followed by subsequent sequencing (F. Sanger et al., J. Mol. Biol. 13, 373 (1975)), and PCR amplification followed by diagnostic restriction digests (W. Jiang et al., Oncogene 4, 923 (1989)). PCR amplification creating diagnostic enzyme sites is a very efficient way of examining alleles for mutations at known sites and involves designing a PCR primer whose 3' end lies next to and produces a novel restriction site encompassing the codon of interest. Following amplification, PCR products from normal alleles will contain the new restriction site, while mutant alleles will not. Digestion of the product from tissue with two normal alleles results in all product being cut; however, if one allele contains a mutation, only half of the product will be digested. FIG. 3 shows the results of amplification and diagnostic digestion applied to Ki-ras codon 12 in several tumors and cell lines. The first panel is from a set of lymphomas. F1 is DNA from a normal untreated mouse and both alleles are cut by BstNl, indicating the presence of two normal alleles. MCA5 is a murine cell line known to contain a Ki-ras codon 12 mutation (L. F. Parada et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 3, 2298 (1983)), and only the amplified normal allele is cleaved. Of the five tumors shown in the second panel, one shows a mutant Ki-ras allele. The next panel shows some of the lung tumors tested and none of them exhibit a mutant allele, and the final panel shows tumor derived cell lines. The first three are from lymphomas and the last three from lung adenocarcinomas. One lung tumor line (#117) has a Ki-ras 12 mutation that was not present in the primary tumor but came up upon transplantation. This analysis has been performed with Ki, Ha and N-ras genes at codons 12 and 61. Of all the tumors and cell lines examined by this method for mutations of the three ras genes at codons 12 and 61, the two shown here were the only ones detected. Examination of codon 13 was done by PCR amplification of genomic DNA surrounding codon 13 followed by cloning into KS+ (Stratagene) and double stranded sequencing. Table I summarizes the ras mutation data. The most notable point from this table is the conspicuous lack of ras mutations in these tumors. In fact the number of ras mutations is much lower than would be expected for a sampling of spontaneous tumors (S. Rodenhuis et al., Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. 142, S27-30; T. R. Devereux et al., Carcinogenesis 12, 299 (1991); J. L. Bos, Cancer Res. 49, 4682 (1989)). Having eliminated ras genes as playing a primary role in the genesis of these ENU induced tumors, c-raf-1 was investigated for possible small or point mutations.

                  TABLE I     ______________________________________     Tumors and Cell Lines Positive for ras Mutations     Codon 12       Codon 13     Codon 61                Cell             Cell         Cell     Tumors     Lines   Tumors   Lines Tumors Lines     ______________________________________     Ha-ras           0/10     0/6     0/6    0/2   0/10   0/6     Ki/ras           1*/10    1/6     0/6    0/2   0/6    0/2     N-ras 0/10     0/6     0/6    0/2   0/10   0/6     ______________________________________      *This was a second passage tumor in which the original tumor did not      contain a KIras mutation.

Table I: Summary of mutation analysis for Ha-, Ki-, and N-ras at codons 12, 13, and 61. Each box displays the number of mutations detected, over the number of tumors and tumor derived cell lines examined via RNAse protection, sequencing or diagnostic digestion, for each of the nine codons.

Example 3 Mutations in Raf-1

Since no point mutations had been described for raf genes in vivo, as had been for the ras genes (E. Santos et al., Science 223, 661 (1984); S. Rodenhuis, N. Engl. J. Med. 317, 929 (1987); M. Barbacid, Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 20, 225 (1990); F. Sanger et al., J. Mol. Biol. 13, 373 (1975)), point mutations were screened for using RNAse protection assays (R. M. Myers et al., Science 230, 1242 (1985); E. Winter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 7575 (1985)). FIG. 4 shows a typical protection assay using a c-raf-1 probe. In this experiment the probe used covered the 3' end of raf-1 from the 3' most StuI site to the end of the coding sequence. The first lane is a marker (pBR322 digested with HaeIII), the second shows the probe alone undigested, the third lane shows the probe hybridized to unrelated RNA in this case tRNA, the fourth lane shows hybridization with v-raf transformed cells and the lower bands represent cleavage at points where the mouse c-raf-1 gene differs from v-raf. The fifth lane shows hybridization with RNA isolated from a normal lung of an untreated F1 mouse, the next lanes are RNA isolated from several tumors. In the case of the normal RNA, only one, fully protected, band is detected while in the case of the tumors two major bands are seen after digestion. 20 out of 20 tumors analyzed in this fashion showed this extra band. These data demonstrate the following major points: 1) there is a tumor specific alteration in c-raf-1 that results in a region of non-homology recognizable by either RNAse A or Tl; 2) The alterations are confined to the same region of one allele as two bands of equal size are present in the tumor lanes, and; 3) both alleles were expressed at comparable levels as both bands are of approximately equal intensity. In the assay shown 5 μg of poly(A)+ RNA was hybridized from normal tissue, and 1 μg was used from the tumors. This was necessary to get signals that could be compared on the same gel due to the overexpression of c-raf-1 in the tumors. By running these assays with various markers it was possible to estimate the approximate site of the alteration(s) to be in the vicinity of the exon 14/exon 15 junction. In order to define the precise genetic alteration or alterations, PCR primers were designed which would generate a 600 bp fragment encompassing this region. cDNAs from tumor derived RNA were then amplified and cloned into KS+ (Stratagene) for double stranded sequencing. The sequencing results from several tumors are shown in FIG. 5. The top portion of FIG. 5 presents a cartoon of the mouse Raf-1 protein. There are three conserved regions CR1, CR2 and CR3 with CR3 representing the kinase domain. The probe used in the RNAse protection assays covers the indicated area, and the PCR primers amplified the bracketed region. Sequencing through this area revealed a variety of mutations just downstream of the APE site. These mutants are shown in an expanded version at the bottom of FIG. 5 (See also SEQ ID NO:1 for normal mouse sequence and SEQ ID NO:2, 3, 4, and 5 for mutant sequences). These mutants were isolated from four separate tumors, and in each case a normal allele (SEQ ID NO:1) was also sequenced. Repeating the cDNA synthesis, PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing gives the same sequence and normal tissue shows no mutations demonstrating that these alterations are not artifactual. Sequence covering the amplified region has been examined and it is interesting that all of these changes occur within a very small region of the raf protein. In fact the region where these mutations occur overlaps an epitope shared by monoclonal antibodies generated against raf (W. Kolch et al., Oncogene 5, 713 (1990)), and computer modeling of the protein shows this to be a hydrophilic domain, the structure of which is predicted to be altered by these mutations. This indicates a biologically important region for the molecule and indeed the first of these mutation tested in NIH3T3 cell assays, after cloning into a retroviral expression vector (El-neo, (G. Heidecker et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 10, 2503 (1990))), was found to be weakly transforming when driven by a Moloney LTR. The transformation efficiency was comparable to EC2, a previously characterized mutation of human c-raf-1 cDNA (G. Heidecker et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 10, 2503 (1990); C. Wasylyk et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 9, 2247 (1989)) and ˜20 fold lower than the v-raf oncogene.

All publications mentioned hereinabove are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention and appended claims.

    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING     (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:     (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 12     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 648 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:     MetGluHisIleGlnGlyAlaTrpLysThrIleSerAsnGlyPheGly     151015     LeuLysAspAlaValPheAspGlySerSerCysIleSerProThrIle     202530     ValGlnGlnPheGlyTyrGlnArgArgAlaSerAspAspGlyLysLeu     354045     ThrAspSerSerLysThrSerAsnThrIleArgValPheLeuProAsn     505560     LysGlnArgThrValValAsnValArgAsnGlyMetSerLeuHisAsp     65707580     CysLeuMetLysAlaLeuLysValArgGlyLeuGlnProGluCysCys     859095     AlaValPheArgLeuLeuGlnGluHisLysGlyLysLysAlaArgLeu     100105110     AspTrpAsnThrAspAlaAlaSerLeuIleGlyGluGluLeuGlnVal     115120125     AspPheLeuAspHisValProIleThrThrHisAsnPheAlaArgLys     130135140     ThrPheLeuLysLeuAlaPheCysAspIleCysGlnLysPheLeuLeu     145150155160     AsnGlyPheArgCysGlnThrCysGlyTyrLysPheHisGluHisCys     165170175     SerThrLysValProThrMetCysValAspTrpSerAsnIleArgGln     180185190     LeuLeuLeuPheProAsnSerThrValGlyAspSerGlyValProAla     195200205     ProProSerPheProMetArgArgMetArgGluSerValSerArgMet     210215220     ProAlaSerSerGlnHisArgTyrSerThrProHisAlaPheThrPhe     225230235240     AsnThrSerSerProSerSerGluGlySerLeuSerGlnArgGlnArg     245250255     SerThrSerThrProAsnValHisMetValSerThrThrLeuHisVal     260265270     AspSerArgMetIleGluAspAlaIleArgSerHisSerGluSerAla     275280285     SerProSerAlaLeuSerSerSerProAsnAsnLeuSerProThrGly     290295300     TrpSerGlnProLysThrProValProAlaGlnArgGluArgAlaPro     305310315320     GlySerGlyThrGlnGlnLysAsnLysIleArgProArgGlyGlnArg     325330335     AspSerSerTyrTyrTrpGluIleGluAlaSerGluValMetLeuSer     340345350     ThrArgIleGlySerGlySerPheGlyThrValTyrLysGlyLysTrp     355360365     HisGlyAspValAlaValLysIleLeuLysValValAspProThrPro     370375380     GluGlnLeuGlnAlaPheArgAsnGluValAlaValLeuArgLysThr     385390395400     ArgHisValAsnIleLeuLeuPheMetGlyTyrMetThrLysAspAsn     405410415     LeuAlaIleValThrGlnTrpCysGluGlySerSerLeuTyrLysHis     420425430     LeuHisValGlnGluThrLysPheGlnMetPheGlnLeuIleAspIle     435440445     AlaArgGlnThrAlaGlnGlyMetAspTyrLeuHisAlaLysAsnIle     450455460     IleHisArgAspMetLysSerAsnAsnIlePheLeuHisGluGlyLeu     465470475480     ThrValLysIleGlyAspPheGlyLeuAlaThrValLysSerArgTrp     485490495     SerGlySerGlnGlnValGluGlnProThrGlySerValLeuTrpMet     500505510     AlaProGluValIleArgMetGlnAspAspAsnProPheSerPheGln     515520525     SerAspValTyrSerTyrGlyIleValLeuTyrGluLeuMetAlaGly     530535540     GluLeuProTyrAlaHisIleAsnAsnArgAspGlnIleIlePheMet     545550555560     ValGlyArgGlyTyrAlaSerProAspLeuSerArgLeuTyrLysAsn     565570575     CysProLysAlaMetLysArgLeuValAlaAspCysValLysLysVal     580585590     LysGluGluArgProLeuPheProGlnIleLeuSerSerIleGluLeu     595600605     LeuGlnHisSerLeuProLysIleAsnArgSerAlaSerGluProSer     610615620     LeuHisArgAlaAlaHisThrGluAspIleAsnAlaCysThrLeuThr     625630635640     ThrSerProArgLeuProValPhe     645     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 648 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:     MetGluHisIleGlnGlyAlaTrpLysThrIleSerAsnGlyPheGly     151015     LeuLysAspAlaValPheAspGlySerSerCysIleSerProThrIle     202530     ValGlnGlnPheGlyTyrGlnArgArgAlaSerAspAspGlyLysLeu     354045     ThrAspSerSerLysThrSerAsnThrIleArgValPheLeuProAsn     505560     LysGlnArgThrValValAsnValArgAsnGlyMetSerLeuHisAsp     65707580     CysLeuMetLysAlaLeuLysValArgGlyLeuGlnProGluCysCys     859095     AlaValPheArgLeuLeuGlnGluHisLysGlyLysLysAlaArgLeu     100105110     AspTrpAsnThrAspAlaAlaSerLeuIleGlyGluGluLeuGlnVal     115120125     AspPheLeuAspHisValProIleThrThrHisAsnPheAlaArgLys     130135140     ThrPheLeuLysLeuAlaPheCysAspIleCysGlnLysPheLeuLeu     145150155160     AsnGlyPheArgCysGlnThrCysGlyTyrLysPheHisGluHisCys     165170175     SerThrLysValProThrMetCysValAspTrpSerAsnIleArgGln     180185190     LeuLeuLeuPheProAsnSerThrValGlyAspSerGlyValProAla     195200205     ProProSerPheProMetArgArgMetArgGluSerValSerArgMet     210215220     ProAlaSerSerGlnHisArgTyrSerThrProHisAlaPheThrPhe     225230235240     AsnThrSerSerProSerSerGluGlySerLeuSerGlnArgGlnArg     245250255     SerThrSerThrProAsnValHisMetValSerThrThrLeuHisVal     260265270     AspSerArgMetIleGluAspAlaIleArgSerHisSerGluSerAla     275280285     SerProSerAlaLeuSerSerSerProAsnAsnLeuSerProThrGly     290295300     TrpSerGlnProLysThrProValProAlaGlnArgGluArgAlaPro     305310315320     GlySerGlyThrGlnGlnLysAsnLysIleArgProArgGlyGlnArg     325330335     AspSerSerTyrTyrTrpGluIleGluAlaSerGluValMetLeuSer     340345350     ThrArgIleGlySerGlySerPheGlyThrValTyrLysGlyLysTrp     355360365     HisGlyAspValAlaValLysIleLeuLysValValAspProThrPro     370375380     GluGlnLeuGlnAlaPheArgAsnGluValAlaValLeuArgLysThr     385390395400     ArgHisValAsnIleLeuLeuPheMetGlyTyrMetThrLysAspAsn     405410415     LeuAlaIleValThrGlnTrpCysGluGlySerSerLeuTyrLysHis     420425430     LeuHisValGlnGluThrLysPheGlnMetPheGlnLeuIleAspIle     435440445     AlaArgGlnThrAlaGlnGlyMetAspTyrLeuHisAlaLysAsnIle     450455460     IleHisArgAspMetLysSerAsnAsnIlePheLeuHisGluGlyLeu     465470475480     ThrValLysIleGlyAspPheGlyLeuAlaThrValLysSerArgTrp     485490495     SerGlySerGlnGlnValGluGlnProThrGlySerValLeuTrpMet     500505510     AlaProGluValValArgMetGlnAspAspAsnProPheSerPheGln     515520525     SerAspValTyrSerTyrGlyIleValLeuTyrGluLeuMetAlaGly     530535540     GluLeuProTyrAlaHisIleAsnAsnArgAspGlnIleIlePheMet     545550555560     ValGlyArgGlyTyrAlaSerProAspLeuSerArgLeuTyrLysAsn     565570575     CysProLysAlaMetLysArgLeuValAlaAspCysValLysLysVal     580585590     LysGluGluArgProLeuPheProGlnIleLeuSerSerIleGluLeu     595600605     LeuGlnHisSerLeuProLysIleAsnArgSerAlaSerGluProSer     610615620     LeuHisArgAlaAlaHisThrGluAspIleAsnAlaCysThrLeuThr     625630635640     ThrSerProArgLeuProValPhe     645     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 648 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:     MetGluHisIleGlnGlyAlaTrpLysThrIleSerAsnGlyPheGly     151015     LeuLysAspAlaValPheAspGlySerSerCysIleSerProThrIle     202530     ValGlnGlnPheGlyTyrGlnArgArgAlaSerAspAspGlyLysLeu     354045     ThrAspSerSerLysThrSerAsnThrIleArgValPheLeuProAsn     505560     LysGlnArgThrValValAsnValArgAsnGlyMetSerLeuHisAsp     65707580     CysLeuMetLysAlaLeuLysValArgGlyLeuGlnProGluCysCys     859095     AlaValPheArgLeuLeuGlnGluHisLysGlyLysLysAlaArgLeu     100105110     AspTrpAsnThrAspAlaAlaSerLeuIleGlyGluGluLeuGlnVal     115120125     AspPheLeuAspHisValProIleThrThrHisAsnPheAlaArgLys     130135140     ThrPheLeuLysLeuAlaPheCysAspIleCysGlnLysPheLeuLeu     145150155160     AsnGlyPheArgCysGlnThrCysGlyTyrLysPheHisGluHisCys     165170175     SerThrLysValProThrMetCysValAspTrpSerAsnIleArgGln     180185190     LeuLeuLeuPheProAsnSerThrValGlyAspSerGlyValProAla     195200205     ProProSerPheProMetArgArgMetArgGluSerValSerArgMet     210215220     ProAlaSerSerGlnHisArgTyrSerThrProHisAlaPheThrPhe     225230235240     AsnThrSerSerProSerSerGluGlySerLeuSerGlnArgGlnArg     245250255     SerThrSerThrProAsnValHisMetValSerThrThrLeuHisVal     260265270     AspSerArgMetIleGluAspAlaIleArgSerHisSerGluSerAla     275280285     SerProSerAlaLeuSerSerSerProAsnAsnLeuSerProThrGly     290295300     TrpSerGlnProLysThrProValProAlaGlnArgGluArgAlaPro     305310315320     GlySerGlyThrGlnGlnLysAsnLysIleArgProArgGlyGlnArg     325330335     AspSerSerTyrTyrTrpGluIleGluAlaSerGluValMetLeuSer     340345350     ThrArgIleGlySerGlySerPheGlyThrValTyrLysGlyLysTrp     355360365     HisGlyAspValAlaValLysIleLeuLysValValAspProThrPro     370375380     GluGlnLeuGlnAlaPheArgAsnGluValAlaValLeuArgLysThr     385390395400     ArgHisValAsnIleLeuLeuPheMetGlyTyrMetThrLysAspAsn     405410415     LeuAlaIleValThrGlnTrpCysGluGlySerSerLeuTyrLysHis     420425430     LeuHisValGlnGluThrLysPheGlnMetPheGlnLeuIleAspIle     435440445     AlaArgGlnThrAlaGlnGlyMetAspTyrLeuHisAlaLysAsnIle     450455460     IleHisArgAspMetLysSerAsnAsnIlePheLeuHisGluGlyLeu     465470475480     ThrValLysIleGlyAspPheGlyLeuAlaThrValLysSerArgTrp     485490495     SerGlySerGlnGlnValGluGlnProThrGlySerValLeuTrpMet     500505510     AlaProGluValIleArgMetGlnAspAsnAsnProPheSerPheGln     515520525     SerAspValTyrSerTyrGlyIleValLeuTyrGluLeuMetAlaGly     530535540     GluLeuProTyrAlaHisIleAsnAsnArgAspGlnIleIlePheMet     545550555560     ValGlyArgGlyTyrAlaSerProAspLeuSerArgLeuTyrLysAsn     565570575     CysProLysAlaMetLysArgLeuValAlaAspCysValLysLysVal     580585590     LysGluGluArgProLeuPheProGlnIleLeuSerSerIleGluLeu     595600605     LeuGlnHisSerLeuProLysIleAsnArgSerAlaSerGluProSer     610615620     LeuHisArgAlaAlaHisThrGluAspIleAsnAlaCysThrLeuThr     625630635640     ThrSerProArgLeuProValPhe     645     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 648 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:     MetGluHisIleGlnGlyAlaTrpLysThrIleSerAsnGlyPheGly     151015     LeuLysAspAlaValPheAspGlySerSerCysIleSerProThrIle     202530     ValGlnGlnPheGlyTyrGlnArgArgAlaSerAspAspGlyLysLeu     354045     ThrAspSerSerLysThrSerAsnThrIleArgValPheLeuProAsn     505560     LysGlnArgThrValValAsnValArgAsnGlyMetSerLeuHisAsp     65707580     CysLeuMetLysAlaLeuLysValArgGlyLeuGlnProGluCysCys     859095     AlaValPheArgLeuLeuGlnGluHisLysGlyLysLysAlaArgLeu     100105110     AspTrpAsnThrAspAlaAlaSerLeuIleGlyGluGluLeuGlnVal     115120125     AspPheLeuAspHisValProIleThrThrHisAsnPheAlaArgLys     130135140     ThrPheLeuLysLeuAlaPheCysAspIleCysGlnLysPheLeuLeu     145150155160     AsnGlyPheArgCysGlnThrCysGlyTyrLysPheHisGluHisCys     165170175     SerThrLysValProThrMetCysValAspTrpSerAsnIleArgGln     180185190     LeuLeuLeuPheProAsnSerThrValGlyAspSerGlyValProAla     195200205     ProProSerPheProMetArgArgMetArgGluSerValSerArgMet     210215220     ProAlaSerSerGlnHisArgTyrSerThrProHisAlaPheThrPhe     225230235240     AsnThrSerSerProSerSerGluGlySerLeuSerGlnArgGlnArg     245250255     SerThrSerThrProAsnValHisMetValSerThrThrLeuHisVal     260265270     AspSerArgMetIleGluAspAlaIleArgSerHisSerGluSerAla     275280285     SerProSerAlaLeuSerSerSerProAsnAsnLeuSerProThrGly     290295300     TrpSerGlnProLysThrProValProAlaGlnArgGluArgAlaPro     305310315320     GlySerGlyThrGlnGlnLysAsnLysIleArgProArgGlyGlnArg     325330335     AspSerSerTyrTyrTrpGluIleGluAlaSerGluValMetLeuSer     340345350     ThrArgIleGlySerGlySerPheGlyThrValTyrLysGlyLysTrp     355360365     HisGlyAspValAlaValLysIleLeuLysValValAspProThrPro     370375380     GluGlnLeuGlnAlaPheArgAsnGluValAlaValLeuArgLysThr     385390395400     ArgHisValAsnIleLeuLeuPheMetGlyTyrMetThrLysAspAsn     405410415     LeuAlaIleValThrGlnTrpCysGluGlySerSerLeuTyrLysHis     420425430     LeuHisValGlnGluThrLysPheGlnMetPheGlnLeuIleAspIle     435440445     AlaArgGlnThrAlaGlnGlyMetAspTyrLeuHisAlaLysAsnIle     450455460     IleHisArgAspMetLysSerAsnAsnIlePheLeuHisGluGlyLeu     465470475480     ThrValLysIleGlyAspPheGlyLeuAlaThrValLysSerArgTrp     485490495     SerGlySerGlnGlnValGluGlnProThrGlySerValLeuTrpMet     500505510     AlaProGluValIleArgMetGlnAspAspAsnProPheSerSerGln     515520525     SerAspValTyrSerTyrGlyIleValLeuTyrGluLeuMetAlaGly     530535540     GluLeuProTyrAlaHisIleAsnAsnArgAspGlnIleIlePheMet     545550555560     ValGlyArgGlyTyrAlaSerProAspLeuSerArgLeuTyrLysAsn     565570575     CysProLysAlaMetLysArgLeuValAlaAspCysValLysLysVal     580585590     LysGluGluArgProLeuPheProGlnIleLeuSerSerIleGluLeu     595600605     LeuGlnHisSerLeuProLysIleAsnArgSerAlaSerGluProSer     610615620     LeuHisArgAlaAlaHisThrGluAspIleAsnAlaCysThrLeuThr     625630635640     ThrSerProArgLeuProValPhe     645     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 648 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:     MetGluHisIleGlnGlyAlaTrpLysThrIleSerAsnGlyPheGly     151015     LeuLysAspAlaValPheAspGlySerSerCysIleSerProThrIle     202530     ValGlnGlnPheGlyTyrGlnArgArgAlaSerAspAspGlyLysLeu     354045     ThrAspSerSerLysThrSerAsnThrIleArgValPheLeuProAsn     505560     LysGlnArgThrValValAsnValArgAsnGlyMetSerLeuHisAsp     65707580     CysLeuMetLysAlaLeuLysValArgGlyLeuGlnProGluCysCys     859095     AlaValPheArgLeuLeuGlnGluHisLysGlyLysLysAlaArgLeu     100105110     AspTrpAsnThrAspAlaAlaSerLeuIleGlyGluGluLeuGlnVal     115120125     AspPheLeuAspHisValProIleThrThrHisAsnPheAlaArgLys     130135140     ThrPheLeuLysLeuAlaPheCysAspIleCysGlnLysPheLeuLeu     145150155160     AsnGlyPheArgCysGlnThrCysGlyTyrLysPheHisGluHisCys     165170175     SerThrLysValProThrMetCysValAspTrpSerAsnIleArgGln     180185190     LeuLeuLeuPheProAsnSerThrValGlyAspSerGlyValProAla     195200205     ProProSerPheProMetArgArgMetArgGluSerValSerArgMet     210215220     ProAlaSerSerGlnHisArgTyrSerThrProHisAlaPheThrPhe     225230235240     AsnThrSerSerProSerSerGluGlySerLeuSerGlnArgGlnArg     245250255     SerThrSerThrProAsnValHisMetValSerThrThrLeuHisVal     260265270     AspSerArgMetIleGluAspAlaIleArgSerHisSerGluSerAla     275280285     SerProSerAlaLeuSerSerSerProAsnAsnLeuSerProThrGly     290295300     TrpSerGlnProLysThrProValProAlaGlnArgGluArgAlaPro     305310315320     GlySerGlyThrGlnGlnLysAsnLysIleArgProArgGlyGlnArg     325330335     AspSerSerTyrTyrTrpGluIleGluAlaSerGluValMetLeuSer     340345350     ThrArgIleGlySerGlySerPheGlyThrValTyrLysGlyLysTrp     355360365     HisGlyAspValAlaValLysIleLeuLysValValAspProThrPro     370375380     GluGlnLeuGlnAlaPheArgAsnGluValAlaValLeuArgLysThr     385390395400     ArgHisValAsnIleLeuLeuPheMetGlyTyrMetThrLysAspAsn     405410415     LeuAlaIleValThrGlnTrpCysGluGlySerSerLeuTyrLysHis     420425430     LeuHisValGlnGluThrLysPheGlnMetPheGlnLeuIleAspIle     435440445     AlaArgGlnThrAlaGlnGlyMetAspTyrLeuHisAlaLysAsnIle     450455460     IleHisArgAspMetLysSerAsnAsnIlePheLeuHisGluGlyLeu     465470475480     ThrValLysIleGlyAspPheGlyLeuAlaThrValLysSerArgTrp     485490495     SerGlySerGlnGlnValGluGlnProThrGlySerValLeuTrpMet     500505510     AlaProGluValIleArgMetGlnAspAspAsnProPheSerPheGln     515520525     SerThrCysThrPheTyrGlyIleValLeuTyrGluLeuMetAlaGly     530535540     GluLeuProTyrAlaHisIleAsnAsnArgAspGlnIleIlePheMet     545550555560     ValGlyArgGlyTyrAlaSerProAspLeuSerArgLeuTyrLysAsn     565570575     CysProLysAlaMetLysArgLeuValAlaAspCysValLysLysVal     580585590     LysGluGluArgProLeuPheProGlnIleLeuSerSerIleGluLeu     595600605     LeuGlnHisSerLeuProLysIleAsnArgSerAlaSerGluProSer     610615620     LeuHisArgAlaAlaHisThrGluAspIleAsnAlaCysThrLeuThr     625630635640     ThrSerProArgLeuProValPhe     645     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:     AACTTGTGGTGGTTGGACCT20     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:     TCATCCACAAAGTGATTCTG20     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:     AGGAGACCAAGTTTCAGATG20     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 20 base pairs     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:     GCGTGCAAGCATTGATATCC20     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 1947 base pairs     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: double     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:     ATGGAGCACATACAGGGAGCTTGGAAGACGATCAGCAATGGCTTTGGACTCAAAGATGCG60     GTGTTTGATGGCTCCAGCTGCATCTCCCCTACCATTGTTCAGCAGTTTGGCTATCAGCGC120     CGGGCCTCAGATGATGGCAAGCTCACGGATTCTTCTAAGACAAGCAATACTATCCGGGTT180     TTCTTGCCGAATAAGCAAAGGACTGTGGTCAATGTGCGGAATGGAATGAGCTTACATGAC240     TGCCTTATGAAAGCTCTGAAGGTGAGAGGCCTGCAGCCAGAGTGCTGTGCAGTGTTCAGA300     CTTCTCCAGGAACACAAAGGTAAGAAAGCACGCTTAGATTGGAACACCGATGCCGCCTCT360     CTGATTGGAGAAGAACTGCAAGTGGATTTTTTGGATCATGTTCCCATCACAACTCACAAC420     TTTGCTCGGAAAACGTTCCTGAAGCTTGCATTCTGTGACATCTGTCAGAAGTTCCTGCTA480     AATGGATTTCGATGTCAGACTTGTGGCTACAAGTTTCATGAGCACTGTAGCACCAAAGTA540     CCTACTATGTGTGTGGACTGGAGTAATATCAGACAGCTCTTGCTGTTTCCAAATTCCACT600     GTTGGTGACAGTGGAGTCCCAGCACCACCTTCTTTCCCAATGCGTCGGATGCGAGAATCT660     GTTTCCCGGATGCCTGCTAGTTCCCAGCACAGATACTCTACACCCCATGCCTTCACTTTC720     AACACCTCCAGCCCTTCCTCAGAAGGTTCCCTCTCCCAGAGGCAGAGGTCAACGTCCACT780     CCCAATGTCCACATGGTCAGCACCACCCTGCATGTGGACAGCAGGATGATTGAGGATGCA840     ATTCGAAGTCACAGTGAATCAGCCTCACCTTCAGCCCTGTCCAGCAGCCCAAACAACCTG900     AGTCCAACAGGCTGGTCACAGCCCAAAACCCCCGTGCCAGCACAAAGAGAGCGGGCACCA960     GGATCTGGGACCCAGCAAAAAAACAAAATTAGGCCTCGTGGGCAGAGAGACTCGAGTTAT1020     TACTGGGAAATAGAAGCCAGTGAGGTGATGCTGTCTACTCGGATCGGGTCAGGTTCCTTT1080     GGCACTGTGTACAAGGGCAAGTGGCATGGAGATGTTGCAGTAAAGATCCTAAAGGTGGTT1140     GACCCAACTCCAGAGCAACTTCAGGCCTTCAGGAACGAGGTGGCTGTTTTGCGCAAAACA1200     CGGCATGTTAACATCCTGCTGTTCATGGGGTACATGACAAAGGACAACCTGGCGATTGTG1260     ACTCAGTGGTGTGAAGGCAGCAGTCTCTACAAACACCTGCATGTCCAGGAGACCAAATTC1320     CAGATGTTCCAGCTAATTGACATTGCCCGACAGACAGCTCAGGGAATGGACTATTTGCAT1380     GCAAAGAACATCATCCACAGAGACATGAAATCCAACAATATATTTCTCCATGAAGGCCTC1440     ACGGTGAAAATTGGAGATTTTGGTTTGGCAACAGTGAAGTCACGCTGGAGTGGTTCTCAG1500     CAGGTTGAACAGCCCACTGGCTCTGTGCTGTGGATGGCCCCAGAAGTAATCCGGATGCAG1560     GATGACAACCCGTTCAGCTTCCAGTCCGACGTGTACTCGTACGGCATCGTGCTGTACGAG1620     CTGATGGCTGGGGAGCTTCCCTACGCCCACATCAACAACCGAGACCAGATCATCTTCATG1680     GTAGGCCGTGGGTATGCATCCCCTGATCTCAGCAGGCTCTACAAGAACTGCCCCAAGGCA1740     ATGAAGAGGTTGGTGGCTGACTGTGTGAAGAAAGTCAAAGAAGAGAGACCTTTGTTTCCC1800     CAGATCCTGTCTTCCATCGAGCTGCTTCAGCACTCTCTGCCGAAAATCAACAGGAGCGCC1860     TCTGAGCCTTCCCTGCATCGGGCAGCTCACACTGAGGACATCAATGCTTGCACGCTGACT1920     ACATCCCCAAGGCTACCAGTCTTCTAG1947     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 1947 base pairs     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: double     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (ix) FEATURE:     (A) NAME/KEY: CDS     (B) LOCATION: 1..1944     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:     ATGGAGCACATACAGGGAGCTTGGAAGACGATCAGCAATGGTTTTGGA48     MetGluHisIleGlnGlyAlaTrpLysThrIleSerAsnGlyPheGly     151015     TTCAAAGATGCCGTGTTTGATGGCTCCAGCTGCATCTCTCCTACAATA96     PheLysAspAlaValPheAspGlySerSerCysIleSerProThrIle     202530     GTTCAGCAGTTTGGCTATCAGCGCCGGGCATCAGATGATGGCAAACTC144     ValGlnGlnPheGlyTyrGlnArgArgAlaSerAspAspGlyLysLeu     354045     ACAGATCCTTCTAAGACAAGCAACACTATCCGTGTTTTCTTGCCGAAC192     ThrAspProSerLysThrSerAsnThrIleArgValPheLeuProAsn     505560     AAGCAAAGAACAGTGGTCAATGTGCGAAATGGAATGAGCTTGCATGAC240     LysGlnArgThrValValAsnValArgAsnGlyMetSerLeuHisAsp     65707580     TGCCTTATGAAAGCACTCAAGGTGAGGGGCCTGCAACCAGAGTGCTGT288     CysLeuMetLysAlaLeuLysValArgGlyLeuGlnProGluCysCys     859095     GCAGTGTTCAGACTTCTCCACGAACACAAAGGTAAAAAAGCACGCTTA336     AlaValPheArgLeuLeuHisGluHisLysGlyLysLysAlaArgLeu     100105110     GATTGGAATACTGATGCTGCGTCTTTGATTGGAGAAGAACTTCAAGTA384     AspTrpAsnThrAspAlaAlaSerLeuIleGlyGluGluLeuGlnVal     115120125     GATTTCCTGGATCATGTTCCCCTCACAACACACAACTTTGCTCGGAAG432     AspPheLeuAspHisValProLeuThrThrHisAsnPheAlaArgLys     130135140     ACGTTCCTGAAGCTTGCCTTCTGTGACATCTGTCAGAAATTCCTGCTC480     ThrPheLeuLysLeuAlaPheCysAspIleCysGlnLysPheLeuLeu     145150155160     AATGGATTTCGATGTCAGACTTGTGGCTACAAATTTCATGAGCACTGT528     AsnGlyPheArgCysGlnThrCysGlyTyrLysPheHisGluHisCys     165170175     AGCACCAAAGTACCTACTATGTGTGTGGACTGGAGTAACATCAGACAA576     SerThrLysValProThrMetCysValAspTrpSerAsnIleArgGln     180185190     CTCTTATTGTTTCCAAATTCCACTATTGGTGATAGTGGAGTCCCAGCA624     LeuLeuLeuPheProAsnSerThrIleGlyAspSerGlyValProAla     195200205     CTACCTTCTTTGACTATGCGTCGTATGCGAGAGTCTGTTTCCAGGATG672     LeuProSerLeuThrMetArgArgMetArgGluSerValSerArgMet     210215220     CCTGTTAGTTCTCAGCACAGATATTCTACACCTCACGCCTTCACCTTT720     ProValSerSerGlnHisArgTyrSerThrProHisAlaPheThrPhe     225230235240     AACACCTCCAGTCCCTCATCTGAAGGTTCCCTCTCCCAGAGGCAGAGG768     AsnThrSerSerProSerSerGluGlySerLeuSerGlnArgGlnArg     245250255     TCGACATCCACACCTAATGTCCACATGGTCAGCACCACGCTGCCTGTG816     SerThrSerThrProAsnValHisMetValSerThrThrLeuProVal     260265270     GACAGCAGGATGATTGAGGATGCAATTCGAAGTCACAGCGAATCAGCC864     AspSerArgMetIleGluAspAlaIleArgSerHisSerGluSerAla     275280285     TCACCTTCAGCCCTGTCCAGTAGCCCCAACAATCTGAGCCCAACAGGC912     SerProSerAlaLeuSerSerSerProAsnAsnLeuSerProThrGly     290295300     TGGTCACAGCCGAAAACCCCCGTGCCAGCACAAAGAGAGCGGGCACCA960     TrpSerGlnProLysThrProValProAlaGlnArgGluArgAlaPro     305310315320     GTATCTGGGACCCAGGAGAAAAACAAAATTAGGCCTCGTGGACAGAGA1008     ValSerGlyThrGlnGluLysAsnLysIleArgProArgGlyGlnArg     325330335     GATTCAAGCTATTATTGGGAAATAGAAGCCAGTGAAGTGATGCTGTCC1056     AspSerSerTyrTyrTrpGluIleGluAlaSerGluValMetLeuSer     340345350     ACTCGGATTGGGTCAGGCTCTTTTGGAACTGTTTATAAGGGTAAATGG1104     ThrArgIleGlySerGlySerPheGlyThrValTyrLysGlyLysTrp     355360365     CACGGAGATGTTGCAGTAAAGATCCTAAAGGTTGTCGACCCAACCCCA1152     HisGlyAspValAlaValLysIleLeuLysValValAspProThrPro     370375380     GAGCAATTCCAGGCCTTCAGGAATGAGGTGGCTGTTCTGCGCAAAACA1200     GluGlnPheGlnAlaPheArgAsnGluValAlaValLeuArgLysThr     385390395400     CGGCATGTGAACATTCTGCTTTTCATGGGGTACATGACAAAGGACAAC1248     ArgHisValAsnIleLeuLeuPheMetGlyTyrMetThrLysAspAsn     405410415     CTGGCAATTGTGACCCAGTGGTGCGAGGGCAGCAGCCTCTACAAACAC1296     LeuAlaIleValThrGlnTrpCysGluGlySerSerLeuTyrLysHis     420425430     CTGCATGTCCAGGAGACCAAGTTTCAGATGTTCCAGCTAATTGACATT1344     LeuHisValGlnGluThrLysPheGlnMetPheGlnLeuIleAspIle     435440445     GCCCGGCAGACGGCTCAGGGAATGGACTATTTGCATGCAAAGAACATC1392     AlaArgGlnThrAlaGlnGlyMetAspTyrLeuHisAlaLysAsnIle     450455460     ATCCATAGAGACATGAAATCCAACAATATATTTCTCCATGAAGGCTTA1440     IleHisArgAspMetLysSerAsnAsnIlePheLeuHisGluGlyLeu     465470475480     ACAGTGAAAATTGGAGATTTTGGTTTGGCAACAGTAAAGTCACGCTGG1488     ThrValLysIleGlyAspPheGlyLeuAlaThrValLysSerArgTrp     485490495     AGTGGTTCTCAGCAGGTTGAACAACCTACTGGCTCTGTCCTCTGGATG1536     SerGlySerGlnGlnValGluGlnProThrGlySerValLeuTrpMet     500505510     GCCCCAGAGGTGATCCGAATGCAGGATAACAACCCATTCAGTTTCCAG1584     AlaProGluValIleArgMetGlnAspAsnAsnProPheSerPheGln     515520525     TCGGATGTCTACTCCTATGGCATCGTATTGTATGAACTGATGACGGGG1632     SerAspValTyrSerTyrGlyIleValLeuTyrGluLeuMetThrGly     530535540     GAGCTTCCTTATTCTCACATCAACAACCGAGATCAGATCATCTTCATG1680     GluLeuProTyrSerHisIleAsnAsnArgAspGlnIleIlePheMet     545550555560     GTGGGCCGAGGATATGCCTCCCCAGATCTTAGTAAGCTATATAAGAAC1728     ValGlyArgGlyTyrAlaSerProAspLeuSerLysLeuTyrLysAsn     565570575     TGCCCCAAAGCAATGAAGAGGCTGGTAGCTGACTGTGTGAAGAAAGTA1776     CysProLysAlaMetLysArgLeuValAlaAspCysValLysLysVal     580585590     AAGGAAGAGAGGCCTCTTTTTCCCCAGATCCTGTCTTCCATTGAGCTG1824     LysGluGluArgProLeuPheProGlnIleLeuSerSerIleGluLeu     595600605     CTCCAACACTCTCTACCGAAGATCAACCGGAGCGCTTCCGAGCCATCC1872     LeuGlnHisSerLeuProLysIleAsnArgSerAlaSerGluProSer     610615620     TTGCATCGGGCAGCCCACACTGAGGATATCAATGCTTGCACGCTGACC1920     LeuHisArgAlaAlaHisThrGluAspIleAsnAlaCysThrLeuThr     625630635640     ACGTCCCCGAGGCTGCCTGTCTTCTAG1947     ThrSerProArgLeuProValPhe     645     (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:     (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     (A) LENGTH: 648 amino acids     (B) TYPE: amino acid     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:     MetGluHisIleGlnGlyAlaTrpLysThrIleSerAsnGlyPheGly     151015     PheLysAspAlaValPheAspGlySerSerCysIleSerProThrIle     202530     ValGlnGlnPheGlyTyrGlnArgArgAlaSerAspAspGlyLysLeu     354045     ThrAspProSerLysThrSerAsnThrIleArgValPheLeuProAsn     505560     LysGlnArgThrValValAsnValArgAsnGlyMetSerLeuHisAsp     65707580     CysLeuMetLysAlaLeuLysValArgGlyLeuGlnProGluCysCys     859095     AlaValPheArgLeuLeuHisGluHisLysGlyLysLysAlaArgLeu     100105110     AspTrpAsnThrAspAlaAlaSerLeuIleGlyGluGluLeuGlnVal     115120125     AspPheLeuAspHisValProLeuThrThrHisAsnPheAlaArgLys     130135140     ThrPheLeuLysLeuAlaPheCysAspIleCysGlnLysPheLeuLeu     145150155160     AsnGlyPheArgCysGlnThrCysGlyTyrLysPheHisGluHisCys     165170175     SerThrLysValProThrMetCysValAspTrpSerAsnIleArgGln     180185190     LeuLeuLeuPheProAsnSerThrIleGlyAspSerGlyValProAla     195200205     LeuProSerLeuThrMetArgArgMetArgGluSerValSerArgMet     210215220     ProValSerSerGlnHisArgTyrSerThrProHisAlaPheThrPhe     225230235240     AsnThrSerSerProSerSerGluGlySerLeuSerGlnArgGlnArg     245250255     SerThrSerThrProAsnValHisMetValSerThrThrLeuProVal     260265270     AspSerArgMetIleGluAspAlaIleArgSerHisSerGluSerAla     275280285     SerProSerAlaLeuSerSerSerProAsnAsnLeuSerProThrGly     290295300     TrpSerGlnProLysThrProValProAlaGlnArgGluArgAlaPro     305310315320     ValSerGlyThrGlnGluLysAsnLysIleArgProArgGlyGlnArg     325330335     AspSerSerTyrTyrTrpGluIleGluAlaSerGluValMetLeuSer     340345350     ThrArgIleGlySerGlySerPheGlyThrValTyrLysGlyLysTrp     355360365     HisGlyAspValAlaValLysIleLeuLysValValAspProThrPro     370375380     GluGlnPheGlnAlaPheArgAsnGluValAlaValLeuArgLysThr     385390395400     ArgHisValAsnIleLeuLeuPheMetGlyTyrMetThrLysAspAsn     405410415     LeuAlaIleValThrGlnTrpCysGluGlySerSerLeuTyrLysHis     420425430     LeuHisValGlnGluThrLysPheGlnMetPheGlnLeuIleAspIle     435440445     AlaArgGlnThrAlaGlnGlyMetAspTyrLeuHisAlaLysAsnIle     450455460     IleHisArgAspMetLysSerAsnAsnIlePheLeuHisGluGlyLeu     465470475480     ThrValLysIleGlyAspPheGlyLeuAlaThrValLysSerArgTrp     485490495     SerGlySerGlnGlnValGluGlnProThrGlySerValLeuTrpMet     500505510     AlaProGluValIleArgMetGlnAspAsnAsnProPheSerPheGln     515520525     SerAspValTyrSerTyrGlyIleValLeuTyrGluLeuMetThrGly     530535540     GluLeuProTyrSerHisIleAsnAsnArgAspGlnIleIlePheMet     545550555560     ValGlyArgGlyTyrAlaSerProAspLeuSerLysLeuTyrLysAsn     565570575     CysProLysAlaMetLysArgLeuValAlaAspCysValLysLysVal     580585590     LysGluGluArgProLeuPheProGlnIleLeuSerSerIleGluLeu     595600605     LeuGlnHisSerLeuProLysIleAsnArgSerAlaSerGluProSer     610615620     LeuHisArgAlaAlaHisThrGluAspIleAsnAlaCysThrLeuThr     625630635640     ThrSerProArgLeuProValPhe     645     __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid unique to c-raf-1 having a point mutation in the conserved region encoding amino acids 450 to 630 of SEQ ID NO:12.
 2. The nucleic acid of claim 1 wherein the point mutation is in the conserved region encoding amino acids 500 to 550 of SEQ ID NO:12.
 3. The nucleic acid of claim 1 wherein the point mutation is in the conserved region encoding amino acids 514 to 535 of SEQ ID NO:12.
 4. The nucleic acid of claim 1 wherein the point mutation is in the conserved region encoding amino acid 533 of SEQ ID NO:12.
 5. An isolated c-raf-1 protein having a point mutation in the conserved region corresponding to amino acids 450 to 630 of SEQ ID NO:12.
 6. The protein of claim 5 wherein the point mutation is within amino acids 500 to 550 of SEQ ID NO:12.
 7. The protein of claim 5 wherein the point mutation is within amino acids 514 to 535 of SEQ ID NO:12.
 8. The protein of claim 5 wherein the point mutation is in amino acid 533 of SEQ ID NO:12. 